是…的: when, where and how it happened
你是什么时候来的？我是昨天来的。是…的 asks and tells the details of a past event.
Part of the free A2 Chinese course (about HSK 3). Examples are in Simplified characters with pinyin; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
When we already know it happened
Your friend says she has been to Beijing. You already know the trip happened; now you want the details: when? how? who with? For these questions about a past event, Chinese uses a frame: 是 before the detail and 的 at the end.
- 你是什么时候来的？(Nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de?)When did you get here?
- 我是上个星期来的。(Wǒ shì shàng gè xīngqī lái de.)I came last week.
| Detail | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| when | 我是昨天到的。(Wǒ shì zuótiān dào de.) | I arrived yesterday. |
| where | 我是在北京学的中文。(Wǒ shì zài Běijīng xué de Zhōngwén.) | I learned Chinese in Beijing. |
| how | 他们是坐火车去的。(Tāmen shì zuò huǒchē qù de.) | They went by train. |
| who with | 我是跟朋友一起来的。(Wǒ shì gēn péngyou yìqǐ lái de.) | I came with a friend. |
| who did it | 这是我妈妈做的。(Zhè shì wǒ māma zuò de.) | My mum made this. |
是 goes right before the detail you are focusing on. The verb and 的 follow.
- 他们是坐火车去的。(Tāmen shì zuò huǒchē qù de.)They went by train.
- 你是在哪儿学的中文？(Nǐ shì zài nǎr xué de Zhōngwén?)Where did you learn Chinese?
- 这个蛋糕是我妈妈做的。(Zhè gè dàngāo shì wǒ māma zuò de.)My mum made this cake.
Where the object goes
With an object, 的 can go before it or at the very end: 我是在北京学的中文 and 我是在北京学中文的 both work. Before the object is more common in speech.
Dropping 是
In a positive sentence, 是 is often left out: 我昨天来的 = I came yesterday. In the negative it must stay.
The negative: 不是…的
- 我不是开车来的，是走路来的。(Wǒ bú shì kāichē lái de, shì zǒulù lái de.)I didn't drive here; I walked.
Only for the past, and not for news
是…的 is for events that have already happened and that both speakers know about. To give the news itself, use 了; then switch to 是…的 for the details:
- A: 我去了上海。(Wǒ qù le Shànghǎi.) I went to Shanghai. (news: 了)
- B: 你是怎么去的？(Nǐ shì zěnme qù de?) How did you go? (detail: 是…的)
Common mistakes
我是昨天来了。→ 我是昨天来的。The frame ends in 的, not 了.我是昨天来了的。→ 我是昨天来的。No 了 inside 是…的.我们明天是坐火车去的。→ 我们明天坐火车去。是…的 is only for the past; plans for the future don't take it.我不坐飞机来的。→ 我不是坐飞机来的。You may drop 是 in a positive sentence, but never in the negative.
Practice
- 你是怎么来_____？(Nǐ shì zěnme lái ___?)Options: 的 (de) · 了 (le) · 吗 (ma)
Show the answer
的 (de) — 是…的 for the details of a past event.
- 我_____去年来中国的。(Wǒ ___ qùnián lái Zhōngguó de.)
Show the answer
是 — 是 goes before the detail (when), 的 at the end.
- Which sentence means 'I came by plane'?Options: 我是坐飞机来的。(Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.) · 我是坐飞机来了。(Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái le.) · 我坐飞机是来的。(Wǒ zuò fēijī shì lái de.)
Show the answer
我是坐飞机来的。(Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.) — 是 + how + verb + 的.
- Your friend says 我去过上海。(Wǒ qù guo Shànghǎi.) You want to ask when. Which question is best?Options: 你是什么时候去的？(Nǐ shì shénme shíhou qù de?) · 你什么时候去？(Nǐ shénme shíhou qù?) · 你是什么时候去了？(Nǐ shì shénme shíhou qù le?)
Show the answer
你是什么时候去的？(Nǐ shì shénme shíhou qù de?) — The trip already happened, so ask with 是…的. 你什么时候去？ asks about the future.